New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-16
RrBINSTEIN'S NERO"

As presented by the National Opera Company at inc
METROPOLITAN Opera House, Ru6insteins Nero " Is
more a spectacle than lyric drama. In one view OF
the cnse two reasons would to justify this sct
First the work seems have been constructed WITH
the idea that mimic reproductions OF scenes from Rome
in il. most cxtravagant, debauched and luSuriant
nerod would prove fascinating TO the publc than
an effort TO present the moral and intellectual ne OF
the same place and period through the medium OF an
eloouent truthful compact, well-built ana logically
dow loped drama with al its Essentials SUI iuriher
yitalzed by the expressive potency OF mnsic oecohu
such conception OF Neronlc drama came hehei ~
being within the capacity OF representation Win
which the National Company Is ehuo"Su tnan ny
other ofter conception. OF late years the puOuc OIL
New York has shown preference Tor good urarlalo
literature and good dramatic music over mere PICTURES
and pageautry aud the good taste which tho prefer
ence discoses seemed to have very cohsuerape rep
reseutaiion IT. tho audience at the metropolitan on
Monday evening, wherefore there were no scenes OF
wild delight sucu are sure woulo nave oeen cie-
ated had [" Ncrp" beenibrought forward WIN sueu
degree OF pictorial energy few yea aEo' Inc suo
ces. OF :" TRISTAN und Isolde Iahnnauser anu
Fdelio' during the recent season OF oerLnah opera,
was not a success of the stage mechanic but Oh tue
poet composer and interpreting artist. ne iact sus
aests train OF thought which Is 'et 70 the reduer 10
follow without further suggestion W are cohoerneu
"J rrom whatever aide he is viewed Nero is excel
lent operate character and the wonder Is 'nat JIG
Rarier and Rubinstein not had sixty instead OF
sly predecessors Not alone Is II simple matter 10
group around hun historical pictures OF unique inter
eat brliapcy variety and suggestlyeness Dlt as the
historians present HIM to be Is made Tor the stage
His cruelty. prohigacy, efemI acy, cowaruee anu
artistic yan, traits Inch invite diahatio mus
ration and tor each one OF them the pages VI
Snatonus afford il cidents mich accept dramatic
dress none the less willingly because they are ms
torical tsets Besides, there is something IKE poetc
Justice in the idea OF making stage CHARACTER OUT
OF the Emperor who hired himself to theatileai man
aper tor Que million sesteroes about Sof'oVo-a
pr,tty lair honora ium. considering the times ana who
aar,nioved n claaue OF 5000 young men. 10 throw
sequence of the characteristic incidents IN the lie OF
Nero into the torn OF dramatic poem logical III us
development and theatrcsny eneetse, ougn' htr ~
be dhicult thns to do. And yet in the case before
ma Barber has not done II, and by singularly per-
setent and consistent fatality hnbinste,h has iouhe
every weak spot in the poets fabric anc iooSehed ana
t,noed his threads right there. For some OF the main
Inrilents OF his story Barber has authority. tne
innciiul part is that which forms the .,
tho ,Iny Nero and his ribald companions, caiieu
Augustaus in the book OF their nightly orgies
nnr,ue "A maiden, Chryss' whom they discover leaN
ing the temple OF Evander She lees Delole tne. anu
takes RET re in the house of "Epchars, courtesa'
There abe tnds Julius Nindex" Prince OF Aqutama
I'm history the Proprrtor OF Gaul VINO wouhoeu tno
pride of Nero" by calling hm ihiSer"p.e hi.n,'
nlayer in his iusurIectonary address, SnueA
Hedges the maiden his protection ana oonceas her III
nm inner room A" Nerv' and his companions enter
masked, aud demand their tsir quarry, but ',naen
interposes and persists in his determination 70 save
her even after Nero" discloses his itentty FihiT
ne agrors to offer no further objections TO Neros
nlans if The girl should be knowL TO Epicharls
Chrysa dragged forth and ut once rushes 10 Tue
side OF the ovuItesan and salutos her as noher one
had been brought up in iguornnce OF het mo1er
character.
yields his claims protector and ehagrneu q. tne u
caution which he auces that the maiden has pr"ctseo
on him. when a nook maj iiage IL celebrated oel".Hn
Nero and Chr ysa," ne demands anu soeuiee ei.
nrvilege of singing the epithalamilinl an rrs'eren
and ecornfu invocation OF hynen blessing W. tn
pair. Epiehars rs determined TO saw y" drink from
yohet Into which she has put drug AS ser Nero 10
about to lend Der to the bridal chainoer 81
III " The flour as il she dead. 'index," con
Iniis anaw of her purity charges her death upon
Mere who orders him into custody, and the act
ends Here is splendid dramatic material wen han,tea
Inv the poet Saving deal OF music which mas peitei
hcaut, nor iervor to commend the trst Is weicon-
structcd picturesque operate act But areauy u, no
outset It has been forced upon our notice that hun
stein has begun his work wlthOut INSPIRATION II Is
main that we are in the prcsence Of another IMAM ING
Rubn,telp of the Ocean Symphony oil the D-namot
nanvtorte concerto and the best OF the Songs inc
orchestral introduction might have intiohueeu o.
Anthony IA we'll Nero. The first chorns 10 oe,u
iu, and effective land would De more 30 IL Herr NUN
woud stop the painful wr1thinS OF the sihSeiS
~ a vast difference between tins scene anu ,iat III
Gluck,s Orpheus" where the singer enters iiaues
wby should the whole chorus OF women sway nhu toS
tbc,r bare arms in such painfully mechahicai
aaner N hut with the entrance of tic dramatic eie-
m,ut the inspiration flags revi9ing only In tho seehe
petweeh Chrysa and index; tne spltna' m,u,
and the chorus III WHICH EP'oh'~' e"f
prt wb.n we take leave the first act we take leave
., oil ~, tbe iramatst's work when commands adinra
tion On any other than purely literary grounds In the
second begins n hopiess confusion when ny the eh-
csions OF Mr.. Thomas and Herr HOOK male vorii
Sb rosses to be doubtful OF his love Tor her on the
eore Of his affection Tor his wife and mother but
even rs they speak announcement is Brought OF the
execution OF " 0ctayia,' nhd AgriPpDS' sends us
oft TO Poppna" "a oasket OF jewels among them
bracelet containing u portrait al Chrys which
Poppra unw,ttinsly place" on her arm Thus was s
rnue over her son She had learned oil his ntatuation
Tor Chrl sa" caused the maiden to be kidnapped ana
brought 10 her house, intending TO haEd her over TO
her SON knowledge oil this tact we de peud ON the
preface of tho ibrctlist Nothing has happcned thus
lar in this OF the play that hos the remotest rgn
canoe. Now "Nero" announces a drsire To sing, ana
to Terpander's accompaniment On the Tyre Ire sings
of the greet and love of lph genia." The air Is
finely conceived one its most admirable characteristic
being the genuinely antique ieeing that poryades H.
pcng this song Perhaps the direct suggestion oil its
subject matter he derived from the tact that Nero on